Ritchie Bros hails Geelong auction site debut

More than $25 million worth of heavy equipment, including 42 new Iveco Daily, Stralis and Acco models, changed hands at the inaugural auction at the new Ritchie Bros Auctioneers site in Geelong this week.

About 1,440 bidders from more than 30 countries registered on site or online to be involved in the unreserved public auction.

It featured more than 950 heavy equipment and transportation items from more than 115 sellers.

"The market was pretty strong . . . a lot of people wanted to be in the market," Regional Operations Manager Richard Tucker said afterwards.

Regional Sales Manager Finlay Massey scotched any speculation that the Ivecos had been hanging around, pointing to the 2013 Stralises amongst the 2012-badged vehicles.

He says that Ritchie Bros has a long-standing relationship with Iveco.

Richie Bros President Rob Mackay, who was over from Canada for the event, told ATN that his firm would like original equipment makers to look to a sales model that bypasses dealers and went straight to auction.

Mackay notes that though mining and earthmoving equipment garnered international interest from buyers and sellers and global market prices, local design rules meant trucks were a domestic affair.

The 16- hectare Geelong auction site features a new 2,489 square metre auction building with a 670-seat main auction theatre, where items are brought over a ramp in front of the seated crowd while being sold.

There is also a 500-seat capacity Virtual Ramp theatre, where items are shown on a screen while being sold.

Of the used items up for grabs, prime movers, trailers and rigid trucks owned by Noske, Nationwide and other smaller firms also found new owners.